Police in Myanmar arrest more than 470 people and shoot and injure at least one in a massive crackdown on demonstrations against military rule across the country on Feb. 27, 2021. (SAI AUNG MAIN/AFP via Getty Images)
More than 470 people were arrested and at least one shot and wounded in a three-week-old crackdown on Feb. 27, as police clashed with fearless people in the largest crackdown in three weeks, sparked by the military government’s seizure of power in Burma.
Recently, Myanmar’s ambassador to the UN, Kyaw Moe Tun, called on the UN to “do whatever is necessary to stop the Burmese military” from restoring democracy in the country. In his final remarks, Kyaw Moe Tun appeared to be overwhelmed with emotion, raising three fingers in salute to the protesters and declaring, “Our faith will prevail.
The United States commends the courageous and clear statement made by Permanent Representative U Kyaw Moe Tun, and by those in Burma who are making their voices heard. we must all heed their call to restore democracy in Burma. pic.twitter.com/DbrDn2EeAM
- Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) February 26,2021
Burma’s police were out in force on the 27th, cracking down on protests across the country.
In Yangon, the largest city, protesters fled into alleyways and buildings as police advanced, wielding sticks, firing tear gas, detonating shock grenades and firing guns into the air.
State-run Myanmar Radio and Television (MRTV) said police had given advance warning before firing the grenades to disperse the protesters. More than 470 people were arrested across the country.
Burma’s police were out in force on the 27th, cracking down on protests across the country. (YE AUNG THU/AFP via Getty Images)
The Myanmar Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (MAPP) said it believed the number of arrests was higher, with at least 10 prison vans carrying 40 to 50 people each headed to Insein Prison in Yangon.
Among those arrested in Mandalay (also known as Wa), the second largest city, was Win Mya Mya, one of two Muslim National League for Democracy members of parliament.
Separately, three Burmese media outlets, including 7Day News, said earlier that the woman shot in the central town of Monviya had died, but an ambulance service official said she was in the hospital.
Myanmar police launch a massive crackdown on Feb. 27, 2021, in response to demonstrations and protests against military rule across the country, arresting more than 470 people and shooting and wounding at least one. (YE AUNG THU/AFP via Getty Images)
Police in Burma arrested more than 470 people and shot and wounded at least one in a massive crackdown on demonstrations against military rule across the country on February 27, 2021. (SAI AUNG MAIN/AFP via Getty Images)
On February 27, 2021, Myanmar police launched a massive crackdown on demonstrations against military rule across the country, arresting more than 470 people and shooting and wounding at least one. The photo shows protesters holding up three fingers in a police vehicle on February 27. (SAI AUNG MAIN/AFP via Getty Images)
Junta leader General Min Aung Hlaing said earlier that authorities used only minimal force, but at least three protesters were killed during the days of demonstrations. The military said one police officer was killed in the riots.
Myanmar’s military launched a coup on Feb. 1 to seize power, arresting Aung San Suu Kyi and many senior members of her party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), and accusing the NLD of winning last November’s election through fraud. Since then, the situation has been in turmoil, with hundreds of thousands of people taking to the streets and drawing condemnation from Western countries, some of which have imposed limited sanctions on the Burmese military.
Social activists called on people to continue to take to the streets in protest on the 28th.
Recent Comments